A hollow girl
She walks through shallow pools of rain
Her heart strung out behind her
A glass doll dressed so prettily
The street light falls on the cracks around her mouth
Dark puddles form beneath her smile
The rain slides off her emotions
Her eyes, beautiful blue beads, reflect nothing
A backpack carries family expectations
Childhood memories stuffed in the side pocket
A perfect smile in porcelain
A hollow girl
Street friendship sees her through the night
Bitter laughter covers unwanted pain
Fatherly love can’t reach her here
A father’s touch shouldn’t hurt so much
In an empty alley she runs through green grass
Lies down amongst the wildflowers and moss
She counts the stars painted in the heavens
Dreams of an attentive mother
Waterfalls cascade and she wakes in the rain
Her ragged fingernails trace a pattern on the bricks
An empty smile in porcelain
A hollow girl
Approached by a shadow offering safety
She timidly follows the promises
A warm bed and company of young girls assures her
With a hot meal she ignores the empty eyes
Feeling warm she does not see the empty smiles
Refusals repaid in bruises
Acceptance shines on the edge of a knife
Her backpack hidden in a small corner of yesterday
The streetlight falls on the cracks in her makeup
She lies down counting the stars painted on the ceiling
A smile as hard as porcelain
A hollow girl
